Hand Puppet
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Albert G. Walker
(American, 1836 - 1902)
MakerMade by
Albert G. Walker
(American, 1836 - 1902)
Date1858
MediumCarved and painted wood; hand-stitched, plain-woven cotton; wool fiber; gold paper; thread; and nails
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 29 x 8 x 2 1/2in. (73.7 x 20.3 x 6.4cm)
ClassificationsEquipment
Credit LineThe Newman S. Hungerford Museum Fund
Object number2007.4.1.7
DescriptionMale hand puppet made of a piece of wood that is carved at one end to form a neck and head. A separate piece of wood is glued to the face to form a nose; small nostrils are carved out. The neck and head are shellaced or stained, but the covered portions of the wood are left plain. A mouth and the outline for eyes were carved out. The pupils and eyebrows are applied with black paint. The lips are colored with reddish-brown paint, and a beard is applied with black paint. Brown and blond fiberous material forms hair; it is held to the head by three nails across the bottom, and by four more nails around the puppet's hat. Another small piece of wood forms the puppet's proper left arm; the end is carved to form a closed hand. The arm is not physically attached to the wood that makes the main body of the puppet; it is held into the puppet's sleeve by a loop of thread at the end of the sleeve that wraps over and around the puppet's closed hand, between his second and third fingers.
Clothing: The puppet wears a uniform. His pointed hat is made of two pieces of hand-stitched, plain-woven rose-colored cotton, stitched together in the middle. The hat has a triangle of gold paper attached at center front, and a rectangle of gold paper attached at the middle of the forehead. Stuffing inside the hat makes is stand upright. The hat is attached to the puppet's head with four nails, one each at front and back, and one at each side. The puppet's coat is made of pieces of light blue plain-woven cotton, hand-stitched together. The jacket is cut straight across the waist, but in the back, the coat is longer and cut in a curve. A line of gold paper runs from one side of the front of the jacket, up and around the back of the neck, and back down the other side of the front. The proper right shoulder has an extra square of gold paper that the left side does not have. Between the gold stripes, the front of the jacket has two rows of three buttons made of gold paper; the rows taper slightly toward the bottom. A small rectangle of gold paper below the buttons forms a belt buckle. The sleeve for the proper right arm is made of two pieces of the light blue fabric stitched together, then hand-stitched to the body of the jacket; all the stitching is done with brown thread. A fragment of gold paper is on the inside of the sleeve above the elbow. A length of bright red plain-woven cotton is stitched all the way around the underside of the bottom of the jacket; this fabric would cover the puppeteer's arm. The red fabric is stitched up the center back; the bottom is unhemmed.
Clothing: The puppet wears a uniform. His pointed hat is made of two pieces of hand-stitched, plain-woven rose-colored cotton, stitched together in the middle. The hat has a triangle of gold paper attached at center front, and a rectangle of gold paper attached at the middle of the forehead. Stuffing inside the hat makes is stand upright. The hat is attached to the puppet's head with four nails, one each at front and back, and one at each side. The puppet's coat is made of pieces of light blue plain-woven cotton, hand-stitched together. The jacket is cut straight across the waist, but in the back, the coat is longer and cut in a curve. A line of gold paper runs from one side of the front of the jacket, up and around the back of the neck, and back down the other side of the front. The proper right shoulder has an extra square of gold paper that the left side does not have. Between the gold stripes, the front of the jacket has two rows of three buttons made of gold paper; the rows taper slightly toward the bottom. A small rectangle of gold paper below the buttons forms a belt buckle. The sleeve for the proper right arm is made of two pieces of the light blue fabric stitched together, then hand-stitched to the body of the jacket; all the stitching is done with brown thread. A fragment of gold paper is on the inside of the sleeve above the elbow. A length of bright red plain-woven cotton is stitched all the way around the underside of the bottom of the jacket; this fabric would cover the puppeteer's arm. The red fabric is stitched up the center back; the bottom is unhemmed.
Status
Not on view
